Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

Delsym (Dextromethorphan) is a good option for treating dry cough. It's not safe to take with MAO inhibitors though.

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3.3/ 5 average rating with 127 reviewsforDelsym

Relieves cold and flu symptoms.

Dayquil Cold And Flu (Acetaminophen / Phenylephrine / Dextromethorphan) is a useful combination medicine that relieves cold and flu symptoms, but make sure you really need all of its ingredients.

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3.7/ 5 average rating with 1034 reviewsforDayquil Cold And Flu

Upsides

Good for treating dry cough.

Available in drugstores either by itself or in combination with other medications to treat cold and allergy symptoms.

Available as a liquid and a tablet.

Some products relieve cough for up to 12 hours.

Dayquil Cold And Flu (Acetaminophen / Phenylephrine / Dextromethorphan) is a combination medicine that relieves multiple cold symptoms. It's good to use if you have a stuffy nose, a cough, fever, and pain.

The decongestant (phenylephrine) has fewer side effects than other decongestants like pseudoephedrine. It doesn't raise your blood pressure and heart rate as much, or cause as much trouble falling asleep.

The pain reliever (acetaminophen) is easier on your stomach and has fewer drug interactions than other pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen.

Downsides

Can't take dextromethorphan if you're taking MAO inhibitors (drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease, depression, and other emotional conditions). If taken together, they will cause dangerously high blood pressure levels.

If you're taking this in combination with other cold and allergy medications, you should read labels closely to make sure you're not accidentally taking too much of a single ingredient.

If you don't really need all of the medications in this combination, you're taking extra medicine and might have extra side effects for no reason.

Phenylephrine doesn't last as long as other oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine.

You shouldn't use it if you have high blood pressure.

To avoid hurting your liver, you have to keep track of the total amount of acetaminophen (APAP) you're taking since it's a very common ingredient in pain and cold/flu combination medicines.